What can I say? The Mammoth Minarets is my favorite area to go hiking, climbing, and photograph—hands down. This was a cross-country route that linked two trails together; the Minaret Lake Trail and Shadow Creek Trail. The Mammoth Mountains Ski resort's $7.00 shuttle ride to and from Mammoth Mountain Ski resort is a convenient bargain in that it eliminates the gap between the starting and ending points; Devils Postpile Trailhead and Agnew Meadows. I squeezed this other wise 4 day trip into 2 days upon short notice of the Devils Postpile opening about 3 days before my wife notified me that I would be spending another weekend by myself while she visit family in Arizona.

Some ripples in the water in the southern end of Cecil Lake, let me know that the unique opportunity is coming to an end, or not? The lake turned semi gloss for a period of about 45 minutes while I had breakfast and observed the hikers shouting at each other on the other side of the lake. It then calmed back down for about 45 additional minutes from 7:15-8:00 for some more nice shooting conditions.

The hikers that were camped out in the yellow tent on the NW side of Cecil Lake yesterday make their departure not so stealth-like. Their shouting makes me aware of their nearby presence, so I decide to capture a telephoto shot of them as they negotiate the more difficult terrain to the west of the Cecil Lake. I observe them as they make their way towards Minaret Lake over the classic cross-country route that they have made, "Not so classic," as their shouts depict.

I don't get to many opportunities to capture beautiful mountain scenery reflected off of glass-like water surfaces, specifically alpine Lakes. This one is definately my best opportunity I've ever received.

A few ripples in the water enhance the image.

Some light ripples, and some glass-like surface make for a nice picture.

A fish rising adds to the mix and makes for another nice picture.

Mammoth Minaret reflection off of Cecil Lake.

Mammoth Minaret reflection off of Cecil Lake.

Dark blue richness in the sky and the water made possible by the perfect polarization in accordance to Brewster’s Angle.

Looking at a fold-like reflection of the Minarets towards the north end of Cecil Lake.

There are a few patches of grass around Cecil Lake if you look hard enough.

Cecil Lake

The wind picks-up and the nice reflective properties of the the calm surface of the water vanish just a little after 8am.

Semi-gloss/gloss.

Satin.

I snap a quick picture in the direction that I'll be heading from my campsite.

The size of the talus gets larger as you approach the northern end of Cecil Lake and make your way towards the decent into Iceberg Lake.

This is where I make a small error in my choice of navigation. I should have descended west of the granite hill in the upper left of this picture. But it's ok, "I'm a decent climber and have no problem getting down the cliff-like terrain that I chose to the right of this small hill over the more preferable left side."

Had I brought my crampons and ice axe, the snow field below, as seen here, would have been my first choice of decent based on my more easterly choice of descent.

One last look at Cecil Lake before I descend into Iceberg Lake.

There’s a little hump that you have to get over to get into or out of Cecil Lake. On the other side of this little hill, as seen in the middle of this picture, the hump offers a lower starting point.

Fairly large talus along the hump at the north end of Cecil Lake.

Iceberg Lake from the pass leading one to and from Cecil Lake.

The descent into and from Iceberg Lake can be steep depending on which route you take.

I chose the steepest route down to Iceberg Lake from Cecil Lake and did a lot of down climbing on my way to more two-footed travel.

My chosen descent into Iceberg Lake from Cecil Lake.

My chosen descent into Iceberg Lake from Cecil Lake.

Iceberg Lake below with Mount Ritter and Banner Peak in the distance.

One of many looks up at the Mammoth Minarets as I make my descent into Iceberg Lake and around the eastern shoreline beneath Volcanic Ridge.

After down climbing much of the steepest possible route that I could find, I find my way to the classic two-footed trail that most people stick to.

After down climbing much of the steepest possible route that I could find, I find my way to the classic two-footed trail that most people stick to.

Iceberg Lake lives up to it's name, even with a very below average snow season.

I chose to play it safe and stay off the hard snow fields that could end me in the drink if I were to loose my footing crossing them.

One of many looks up at the Mammoth Minarets as I make my descent into Iceberg Lake and around the eastern shoreline beneath Volcanic Ridge.

One of many looks up at the Mammoth Minarets as I make my descent into Iceberg Lake and around the eastern shoreline beneath Volcanic Ridge.

Some thick snow left-over from the previous snow season which was a way above average snow pack.

A look back at the Mammoth Minarets as I make my off of the rocky terrain around the east side of the Iceberg Lake to the green slopes that lead you to the northern end of the Lake.

The northern end of Iceberg Lake.

The Mammoth Minarets reaching high above Iceberg Lake are a very eye-catching feature of the Lake along this cross-country route in either direction.

I take one last look back on the terrain that I had to cross to get from Cecil Lake to Iceberg Lake. Now the easy-going series of maintained trails that will lead me back to society.